Seven individuals tragically lost their lives on Saturday when a section of a ferry dock on Georgia’s Sapelo Island collapsed during a ceremony commemorating Black slave descendants, according to authorities.

“Seven fatalities have been confirmed,” stated a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which manages the dock, as reported. The spokesperson further noted that several people were transported to the hospital while rescue teams, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the McIntosh County Fire Department, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, conducted a search in the water.

The incident occurred when the gangway at the dock gave way, causing people to fall into the water. This unfortunate event took place as crowds assembled on the island to honor its small Gullah-Geechee community, which is comprised of descendants of Black slaves.

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